Electron discharge device



A. L. SAMUEL ELECTRON DISCHARGE DEVICE Jul 1e 20, 1939.

Filed July 16,. 1937 INVENTOR A.L..SAMUEL ATTORNEY Patented June 20, 1939 V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFiCE ELECTRON DISCHARGE DEVICE I Arthur L. Samuel, Summit, N. J., assignor to Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application July 16, 1937, Serial No. 153,883

10 Claims. (Cl. 250-275) This invention relates to electron discharge the anodes. The anodes ll may be plane parallel devices and more particularly to such devices plates supported by rigid leading-in conductors especially suitable for the generation and am- I3 and I3 connected as shown in Fig. 2 by meplification of ultra high frequency impulses. tallic sleeves M, the conductors I3 beingsealed -5' One object of this invention is to maintain in and extending from the vessel I at diametriaccurately the space relation and relative posically opposite points.

tion of a plurality of electrodes in electron dis- Encompassing the anodes II is a resilient or charge devices. flexible loop or ring member l5 abutting the Another object of this invention is to simplify sleeves I4 and having apertures in which the supthe construction of electron discharge devices. ports I3 are fitted. The ring member l5 may be 10 In one illustrative embodiment of this invenof insulating material such as quartz or may be tion, an electron discharge device comprises an formed of a strip of mica or the like. enclosing vessel housing a pair of anodes, which The cathode I2 may be a linear filament, for may be plane and parallel or opposed semi-cylexample, of thoriated tungsten, extending paral- 115 inders, and a cathode, for example, a linear filalel to the opposed faces of the anodes I l and midment, extending between the anodes and parallel way therebetween. The cathode extends through thereto. The anodes may be supported by rigid diametrically opposite points, 90 degrees removed individual leading-in conductors sealed in the from the supports I3, in the insulating ring and Walls of the enclosing vessel. is held in position by stops is secured to the ends "fig-. Inaccordance with one feature of this invenof the cathode and bearing against the outer tion, the cathode is supported and maintained circumference of the ring member l5. Preferunder tension by a resilient or flexible loop or ably, in the fabrication of the device, the ring ring member, which may be of insulating mamember is compressed slightly along the diameter terial, the ends of the cathode being affixed to coincident with the cathode so that an initial 5 diametrically oppositepoints of the ring member. tension is applied to the cathode. Suitable heat- The ring member may be supported by the leading current may be supplied to the cathode ing-in conductors for the anodes and may be through leading-in conductors l'l, sealed in the slightly compressed, so that an initial tension is vessel l0 at points 90 degrees removed from the applied to the filament. As the cathode contracts seals for the anode leading-in conductors l3, and

and expands during operation of the device, the flexible connections 18. This arrangement of the 30 form of the ring alters accordingly so that the various leading-in conductors, it will be seen, cathode is maintained under a substantially conminimizes the coupling and interaction between stant tension and its linearity and proper position the anode leading-in conductors l3 and those for with respect to the anodes is preserved. Flexible the cathode l2.

leading-in conductors sealed in the walls of the During operation of the device, due to tem- 5 enclosing vessel may be connected to the ends of perature variations the cathode expands and conthe cathode. tracts. The form of the flexible ring alters ac- The invention and the foregoing and other cordingly so that the cathode is maintained unfeatures thereof will be understood more clearly der tension. Hence, the linearity of the cathode 40 and fully from the following detailed description and the proper spacing of the cathode with re- 40 with reference to the accompanying drawing, in spect to the anodes is preserved. which: Preferably, in order to allow relatively free ex- Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of an electron pansion and contraction of the ring member l5, discharge device constructed in accordance with a sliding fit is provided between one or both of this invention; the supports l3 and the ring member. Alter- 5 Fig. 2 is a view partly in cross-section of an natively, a sliding fit may be provided between electron discharge device illustrative of another one or both of the supports I3 and the sleeves embodiment of this invention; and M and a slight clearance left between the outer Fig. 3 is a detail view in perspective illustrating ends of the sleeves and the inner wall of the another form of anode that may be utilized in the enclosing vessel. 5 devices shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The device shown in Fig. 1 may be utilized to Referring now to the drawing, the electron disadvantage as a magnetron, in which case means charge device shown in Fig. 1 comprises an are provided for producing a concentrated magevacuated enclosing vessel l0 housing a pair of netic field adjacent and parallel to the cathode 5 anodes l I and a cathode I2 extending between I2. Such means may include, for example, an external magnet having its poles [9 in juxtaposition to opposite ends of the cathode and in alignment with the cathode 12.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 2, which is identical in most respects with the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the ring member I5 supporting and tensioning the cathode I2, is formed of a strip of suitable metaal. The ring member is supported by the leading-in conductors I3 for the anodes and is insulated therefrom. by insulating bushings 20 carried by the ring member I5 and fitted on the leading-in conductors. The ring member has affixed thereto other insulating bushings 2| through which the cathode l2 extends.

Although in the embodiments of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the anodes ll are plane and parallel, they may be of other forms. For example, as indicated in Fig. 3, the anodes may be semi-cylinders 22, mounted in opposed relation and coaxial with one another and the oathode I 2. Also, although the cathode I2 has been shown as a wire or filament, it may be of other construction. For example,. it may be a relatively wide ribbonihaving its larger faces parallel to the anodes ll. Such a cathode is particularly suitable-for devices of the parallel plane electrode diode type.

It will be understood, of course, that the embodiments shown and described are but illustrative of the invention and that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope and" spirit of this invention as defined inthe appended, claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An electron discharge device comprising a cathode, an electrode in' cooperative relation with said cathode, a single flexible member having spaced portions afiixed to opposite ends of said cathode and spacing said cathode with respect to saidelectrode, and leading-in conductors electrically' separate from said member and connected to said ends. 2. Anelectron discharge device comprising a filamentary cathode, and means supporting said cathode comprising a flexible loop member, said cathode having its ends afiixed to spaced points of said loop member.

3. An electron discharge, device comprising a linear filamentary cathode, and means supporting said cathode comprising a flexible circular flexible member mounted on said supports and connected to opposite ends of said cathode.

' 5. An electron discharge device comprising a pair of spaced anodes, a linear filamentary cathode extending between said anodes, supports for said anodes, and a flexible ring member mounted on said supports, said. cathode having its ends connected to diametrically opposite points of said ring member.

6. An electron discharge device comprising a pair of cooperatively disposed electrodes, and a flexible member connected to opposite ends of one of said electrodes and engaging the other of said electrodes.

7. An' electron discharge device comprising a pair of anodes, supports for said anodes, a flexible insulating ring mounted on said supports, and a cathode extending between said anodes and secured at its ends to said insulating ring.

8. An electron discharge device comprising an enclosing vessel, a pair of juxtaposed anodes, leading-in conductors for said anodes extending from diametrically opposite points of said vessel, a flexible ring carried by said conductors and encircling said anodes, a cathode extending between-said anodes and having its ends secured to diametrically opposite points of said ring, and flexible leading-in conductors connected to the ends of said cathode.

9. An electron discharge device comprising an anode, a support for said anode, a flexible metallic member positioned by said support and insulated therefrom, and a filamentary cathode in cooperative relation to said anode, said cathode having its ends connected to said flexible member and insulated therefrom.

10. An electron discharge device comprising a pair of anodes, supports for said anodes, a flexible metallic ring carried by said supports and insulated therefrom, and a filamentary cathode extending between said anodes having its ends connected to diametrically opposite points. on said ring and insulated therefrom.

ARTHUR L. SAMUEL. 

